How to reconcile archaeology with suburban growth?
DOUG MCFADDEN, an archaeologist, walks through the site of a future suburb picking up shards of pottery more than a thousand years old. The 280-acre field in south-west Utah is littered with Indian artefacts. Last year a trench was dug through part of the site that was not expected to contain many remains. It revealed a grave, pit houses and part of a building.
Southern Utah is one of the archaeologically richest parts of America. The Anasazi Indians who lived there until the 14th century left pottery, the remains of houses and thousands of mysterious images painted on or chipped into rock, much of it fortunately preserved by the region's parched climate. Less fortunately, the Anasazi tended to settle in areas that have plenty of water—just the sort of spots where developers like to build pseudo-Tuscan villas.
And they do, here more than almost anywhere else. The population of St George, the biggest town in south-west Utah, swelled from 90,000 to 126,000 between 2000 and 2006—a growth rate of 16 people a day. Kanab, 90 minutes' drive to the east, seems poised for a similar explosion. It lies near spectacular Zion Canyon, luring retired folk who know the area from their holidays. And the high birth rate in a heavily Mormon area means houses are always in demand, even now.
Under Utah law developers are under no obligation to preserve, or even reveal the existence of, archaeological remains.
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Southern Utah is one of the archaeologically richest parts of America. The Anasazi Indians who lived there until the 14th century left pottery, the remains of houses and thousands of mysterious images painted on or chipped into rock, much of it fortunately preserved by the region's parched climate. Less fortunately, the Anasazi tended to settle in areas that have plenty of water—just the sort of spots where developers like to build pseudo-Tuscan villas.
And they do, here more than almost anywhere else. The population of St George, the biggest town in south-west Utah, swelled from 90,000 to 126,000 between 2000 and 2006—a growth rate of 16 people a day. Kanab, 90 minutes' drive to the east, seems poised for a similar explosion. It lies near spectacular Zion Canyon, luring retired folk who know the area from their holidays. And the high birth rate in a heavily Mormon area means houses are always in demand, even now.
Under Utah law developers are under no obligation to preserve, or even reveal the existence of, archaeological remains.